Asian Circuit is growing

SingaporeOnly into its second year, the Asian Grand Prix circuit has grown, adding one more leg to the three it had last year. Thanks to funding from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) the prize money component has also been increased substantially, with the winner scheduled to take home 3000 dollars compared to the 2000 offered last year.

Unfortunately, for the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) as well as the hosts of the four meets, Hyderabad (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Bangkok (Thailand) and Manila (The Philippines) the SARS virus that has caused considerable amount of disruption in the region, has also contributed to a touch of uncertainty about the circuit and thus kept some of the top-notchers away from it.

Quite notably, the Chinese, without doubt the athletics powerhouse in the continent, will be missing from the circuit this year. They have, “very graciously’’, withdrawn from the circuit, keeping in mind the sensitivities of the rest of the participating nations and athletes since their country had taken the brunt of the SARS fury. There could have been a question mark over the participation of a couple of athletes from Chinese Taipei as well but the entry lists show that they are going to be there.

At least for the Hyderabad meeting, on May 28, there is no word yet from Qatar, traditionally a strong contender in the men’s events in the region.  Saudi Arabia, second to China in the standings at the Busan Asian Games, might only have a token representation.
 
Consolation should, however, come from the strong squads that are expected to make it from the Central Asian Republics, especially Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Sri Lanka, joining as one of the hosts of the circuit with a meet in Colombo on 1 June, have also fielded all their top athletes, including Susanthika Jayasinghe.

As for the Indians, the prospects of putting up a show matching that of the inaugural year, looks slim. Their top-most contender, woman long jumper Anju Bobby George is away in California, training under world record holder Mike Powell, while the Asian Games silver medallist in the men’s 800 metres, K. M. Binu, is away training in England. Men’s Shot Put, which the Indians swept last time around, is not part of the programme this year.

Anju, whose name also figures in this year’s entries, had taken the silver behind Kazakhstan’s Yelena Kashcheyeva at all the three stops of the circuit last year before snatching the gold at the all-important, season-ending Asian Games in Busan where the Kazak managed just the bronze. With Kashcheyeva once again in the hunt, there could be a rousing battle if Anju makes the unlikely dash from the US.

Talking of contests, the Thai sprinter, Sittichai Swornprateep, who won two of the three 100m titles last year, will have his task cut out this time, what with Kazak Gennady Chernovol in the fray. Chernovol, to recall his feats last year, had finished fourth in the 100 metres at the Asian Games, taking the silver in the 200 metres. With the Asian Games champion, Jamal Abdul Al-Saffar of Saudi Arabia not in the fray and the top Chinese and the Japanese once again absent, Chernovol should fancy his chances in all the four legs. Thai Visanu Sophanich and Indian Anil Kumar will be the other main contenders.

The Sri Lankans, Sugath Tillakeratne and Rohan Pradeepa Kumara, so thoroughly outclassed by the Kuwaiti, Fawzy Dahesh Al-Shammari, in all the three meets in 2002, before the latter went onto win the Asian Games 400m gold, can breathe easy this time. The Kuwaiti is not coming. Nor for that matter is Saudi Arabia’s Hamdan O. Al-Bishi. It will have to be an all-Lankan contest, so to say, when the top two medals are sorted out around the lap. Indians Satbir Singh and Bhupinder Singh should be looking for the minor medal.

The Sri Lankans should add colour and glamour to the women’s sprints, too. With Jayasinghe making one of her rare appearances at this level, the 100 metres should provide some sparks since Uzbek Lyubov Perepelova is also in the fray. Jayasinghe had beaten the Uzbek to the Asian Games gold in Korea last year. Kazak Viktoria Koviyreva who finished fourth in Busan, should be the other main challenger. India’s Saraswati Dey, the surprise 200 metres winner in Busan, will have a tough time keeping up to her stature against such accomplished sprinters.

The Damayanthi Darsha-K. M. Beenamol duels in the women’s 400m could have provided yet another high point in the series, just as they did last year. But there could be a question mark over the Indian’s form, even a doubt about her participation. Beenamol had reportedly skipped much of her off-season routine and indications from the Indian camp, with her name being kept among the `local entries’, was that she might not be fully prepared as she was last time when she, for the first time in her career, had beaten Darsha, at Bangkok. Darsha won the other two.

Since the Chinese are missing, Uzbek Sergey Voynov, bronze winner in the Busan Games, and winner at two of the three stops last year, should sweep the Javelin titles. Indian Anil Kumar, if he makes it from his Hungarian training base, should start the favourite in men’s Discus.

Two of the former Chinese, now representing Singapore, Du Xianhui, ranked second in the continent last year with an 18.67, and Zhang Guirong, placed sixth in last year’s Asian lists, with 18.17, should corner the limelight in women’s Shot Put. The other serious contender is Thai  Juthaporn Krasaeyan.

The programme comprises 13 individual events plus two sprint relays at the Hyderabad leg. The men’s events are: 100m, 400m, 800m, 110m Hurdles, Long Jump, Discus Throw, and Javelin throw while in the women’s section, competitions would be held in the 100m, 400m, 800m, 100m Hurdles, Long Jump and Shot Put.

The prize money distribution will be: First: $3000, second: $1250, third: $500.  Colombo (Sri Lanka) will host the series on 1 June, the Bangkok leg will be on 5 June and Manila on 9 June.